Starkey's Guide to an Awesome Homecoming Weekend Experience

2011 Winthrop Homecoming

As I see my fellow Winthrop University alum post pictures from past homecomings and college experience for #TBT, I decided to share with you all my guide to an awesome homecoming weekend experience. For the most part, I will reference Winthrop University, but most universities and colleges have similar events to take part in during their homecoming as well.

 Alumni Social Media Frenzy

Utilize such trending days like #tbt to share memories of your friends and moments while in college. It will not only bring back (hopefully) great memories, but make the anticipation of homecoming weekend so much better. Hashtags are awesome! Why don't you and your friends create a hash tag specifically for ya'll homecoming experience? It creates more memories and you can view at anytime simply by typing the hashtag. The majority of us are using social media every day even if it's just viewing a timeline for updates. So why not create a hash tag of your homecoming experience? Check out Winthrop Homecoming hashtag this weekend is #wuhomecoming13.

Network

One of the main purposes of homecoming is to network and fellowship with alums. If you were involved in a student organization or group, this would be a great time to connect with those individuals especially if you are searching for job, new opportunity, or just simply to reminiscence about college life. For instance, there is a Winthrop Alumni Charity Golf Tournament taking place Saturday. They will have a meet and greet beginning at 9 a.m. hosted by Assets Inventory in support of Alzheimer's Association. This is the perfect opportunity to network and golf before the parties and tailgating begins for a good cause. Bring your business cards and get to networking!

Tailgate

I can truly say that I didn't appreciate tailgating until I graduated from college, but personally it's the best part of the homecoming weekend experience. This is no different for Historically Black Colleges and Universities or Predominately White Institutions. There are vendors, food, alumni, current students, and visitors. We play corn hole. We share a few laughs. We take tons of pictures and hashtag. We can gather around to hear the cypher featuring Winthrop's illest lyricists.

Attend a Game or Two

What's homecoming without going to the game? The homecoming queen and king are crowned during half-time. You are able to support your alma mater in a hopeful win against their opposing teams. 

Take a tour of the campus and purchase some alumni paraphernalia

Homecoming is the best time to take a tour of the campus. Take a look at the new updates and building plans in the upcoming years. This is also a great opportunity to buy some gear. The book store may have discounts during homecoming weekend for items. 

Shake a leg or two

After all of the tailgating, networking, and attending games, it's a great time to buy a nice homecoming outfit and party with your fellow alum. There are so many different parties going on during homecoming weekend beginning Friday night. You are guaranteed to have a great time especially if you party with a group of your friends from college.

Here's Winthrop University's run down of parties that I am aware of:

Friday Night

Last Train to Paris - Soiree Noir - WU All Black Affair 

Back to the Future: Winthrop University Black Alumni "Ol’ Skool" Homecoming Party which is also the official after party for the Melanie Fiona, Silk, and J-Holiday Concert

Winthrop University's Free Homecoming Party 

Saturday Night

Stamina: Winthrop University Black Alumni Finale Party

I've shared my insight to an awesome homecoming weekend. Now I want to hear from you. 

What are some must have moments for homecoming this year?

PHREAdom Leaders: Shantelle Igiozee

Greetings all!

This week’s PHREAdom Leader profile is focused on Shantelle Igiozee, a May 2013 college graduate of Winthrop University. I chose Igiozee because of her experience during college as a McNair Scholar and role as a reservist in the Army National Guard. I hope you all enjoy!

While many recent college graduates are probably thinking about their next move, Igiozee,23, already knew her next step immediately after she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science – graduate school. She wants to work as a physical therapist.

Originally from Columbia, S.C., she will begin graduate school at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences where she will be obtaining a doctoral degree in physical therapy.

“This university has great facilities, wonderful faculty and is an accelerated program,” Igiozee said. “I will be able to receive my doctorate degree in about two and a half years, which is comparable to the average three or three and a half year physical therapy programs.”

Although physical therapy wasn’t her first career choice, she knew she wanted to do something that related to her love for science.

“Entering college, I wanted to study pharmacy, which derived from my love for science. I was not truly passionate about the field,” she said. “When I discovered the field of physical therapy, I quickly fell in love and this field became my new direction.”

She believes in the power of exercise and educates her peers and family about it.

“I am firm believer of exercise as a prescription over medication depending on the situation. I educate my peers and family on the medicinal effects of exercise, which has no side effects like medication,” she said.

Education is Key

The importance of education is a strong belief of her parents. Igiozee’s family serves a great support system in her life.

Igiozee served as a McNair Scholar where she conducted summer research, travel to research conferences, presented at conferences, and many more activities.

“This program prepared me for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities,” she said. “I conducted two years of summer research which provided me with skills including data management, statistical analysis, formulating a manuscript, oral presentation, and designing methodology that will be used in my professional career.”

Igiozee’s research as a McNair Scholar focused on food desserts and the effect of food retailer placement in disadvantage communities. She has traveled to SEACSM and SAEOPP McNair Conferences in Atlanta, G.A., Jacksonville, Fla. And Greenville, S.C. to present her research and allow her to network with people across different disciplines. She was able to learn different methods of how she could use her expertise in assisting people through rehabilitation.

Therefore, her future research will focus on the rehabilitation of soldiers and children due to her experience as a reservist.

PHREA to Igiozee

Individuals have their own perceptions and ideas of PHREA. He or she may look at passion, hope, respect, empowerment, and ambition differently depending on where they are in life. For Igiozee, those words overall share a common goal to keep pushing, don’t give up, and stay learning.

Passion – Motivating yourself to achieve highest dream and not stopping until you achieve it because are doing it because you love it.

Hope- Never allowing anyone or anything to deviate you from your dreams because you have confidence in yourself.

Respect- Always having respect for yourself by setting high standards and never allowing anyone to lower them. In addition, one must be respectful to your peers and elders because maturity comes in time, not when you hit a certain age.

Empowerment- Taking your knowledge and experiences to educate and mentor the youth of today. Individual journeys should be shared because it could help others going through a similar situation. Life is stressful enough sometimes. Therefore, being an asset in someone’s life could help them progress or even save a life.

Ambition- Having the determination to become successful without letting any obstacles obstruct your vision.

Thank you Shantelle for joining the PHREAdom Leaders train and allowing me to share a little bit about you! Good luck in graduate school!

<3 Starkey

Dear Graduate

Dear Graduate,

As you prepare to walk across the stage and receive your degree, I am reminded of a quote by Ralph Emerson that says, "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail." You spent years preparing for this moment. You took courses in sociology, biology, ethics, economics- micro and macro, quantitative methods, or my personal favorite-media law. I am sure you wondered while sitting in these courses especially if it is not your major, why are you taking this? I definitely did. I could not fathom why I needed to take these courses if I just wanted to write. However, I realized college was a gigantic sponge with so much information for me to soak up to use in my future. Therefore, as you take your last walk around campus, receive guidance from your favorite professors or advisor, or hang out with your college friends, remember life outside is an even larger sponge waiting for you to add your experience and knowledge to it.

Crystal - Class of 2007

When I graduated in 2007, I was not sure what the path led for me, but I knew I wanted to leave a trail. I knew that whatever I did I was going to make a difference in the lives of others. I went home after college, and it was the best decision ever made after looking at everything now. My daddy said if you do not have a job then you are off to Summerville. Needless to say, after less than two hours and four packed to the max cars later, I left Winthrop University after receiving my degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Journalism. The following year, I learned about strength and faith in God. I helped my mom, aunt, and cousins aid my ailing grandmother up to her passing. I knew I made a difference because Granny always smiled at me. I knew all I experienced and learned at Winthrop did not go in vain because she was proud of me. However, the following year when I lost my mother, I felt so empty and hopeless inside. I felt like I lost everything in the blink of an eye. I remember a few months before she passed, we talked about me moving back to Rock Hill. She told me to do what makes me happy. When she passed, it was the hardest thing ever, but after praying to God and thinking about that conversation she and I shared, I knew it was time to spread my wings because that is what she would have wanted.

For the past three years since I have been back to Rock Hill, I created a longer trail to my purpose. It had its curves, jagged edges, falls, and mountains. However, I realized it was my own trail. It was important for me to learn that. So today, I am telling you that your tomorrow may not go as you hoped it would, but remember that if you are creating a trail then you will reach those endless possibilities at the right time. Enjoy every moment because all of your hopes and dreams will unfold when you least expect it! It did for me, and I pray it does for you!

<3 Starkey

P.S. Special shoutout to the Class of 2012 graduates receiving either undergraduate or graduate degrees especially Kyvia Crisco, Devon Perry, Aisha Yates, Ashley Weston, Lisa Orumm, Laurenn Chambers, Lolita Gayden, Amber Brown, and Kayauna Wiggins. I hope I didn’t miss anybody!!! Congrats! Congrats! Congrats!